Thailand Live Wednesday 4 Jul 2012

[webfact]

AFP: Blast At Bangkok Oil Refinery Triggers Huge Blaze

Full story:

[webfact]

Heavy rain warning for Phuket, Andaman

Phuket Gazette

The most recent radar image of the region, taken just after dawn today. Phuket lies in the circle. Source: TMD

PHUKET: -- A strengthening of monsoonal conditions over the Andaman Sea has prompted the Thai Meteorological Department to issue a weather warning for all six Andaman coast provinces: Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi, Trang and Satun.

Full story:

[webfact]

Thai stock index opens on Wednesday at 1,202.64, up 4.57 points /MCOT

[webfact]

No evacuation order after Bangkok refinery fire

BANGKOK, July 4 – No evacuation order has been issued after the fire at the Bangchak refinery on Wednesday morning, but nearby schools have been closed and officials are examining the air quality.

Full story:

[webfact]

Transport Ministry to resume Bangsue-Rangsit Red Line electric train construction

BANGKOK, 4 July 2012 (NNT) – The Transport Ministry is set to resume the construction of the suburban section of the Red Line electric train line, after almost 2 years of suspension.

Transport Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan said on Tuesday that the weekly Cabinet meeting has approved a budget of 29.82 billion baht for the construction of the Bangsue-Rangsit Red Line railway line.

Mr. Charupong said that the construction bidding of the suburban section of the electric train system has been opened since last December and the lowest bidder was the SU Joint Venture, which comprises Sino-Thai Engineering & Construction and Unique Engineering and Construction.

From the proposed cost of 34.65 billion baht, the State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has successfully negotiated it down to the final price, which the Cabinet has approved the budget for on Tuesday.

The Transport Minister stated that the completion of the pending electric train system will see a modern railway station with 22 tracks, which will help ease traffic congestion at 21 critical points and the crowdedness at the Hua Lamphong train station in Bangkok.

The Office of Transport and Traffic Policy and Planning Director-General Soithip Trisuddhi added that the SRT will notify Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which is the financial supporter of the project, about the latest progress.

Mrs. Soithip expects the first construction contract to be signed within 2 weeks. She added that only after JICA has approved the content in the first contract will the SRT be able to sign the second contract.

-- NNT 2012-07-04

[webfact]

Chuwit risking libel for linking Thaksin's sister to gambling den

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- Rak Thailand Party leader Chuwit Kamolvisit will be targetted for libel if he continues to link a gambling den to a younger sister of former prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, legal adviser Noppadon Pattama said on Wednesday.

Full story:

[Lite Beer]

Special Report: Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn: Princess Scientist of Thailand

Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn has made great contributions to the fields of chemistry and medicine in Thailand with her strong dedication and determination to develop the country in the footsteps of His Majesty the King.

HRH Princess Chulabhorn was born on 4 July 1957 as the third child of Their Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit. After graduating with a first-class honors degree in chemistry at Kasetsart University, the Princess has pursued her education in chemistry and conducted extensive research in chemistry-related fields and cancer. She has been a Professor of Chemistry at Mahidol University since 1985. The Princess’ scientific accomplishments have earned her UNESCO’s Einstein Medal for her continuous effort in promoting scientific collaboration in Asia and the Pacific.

Realizing the problem of shortage of medical and public health personnel in Thailand, HRH Princess Chulabhorn founded Chulabhorn Research Institute in 1987. She’s the incumbent President of the institute whose ultimate goal is to utilize science and technology to prove the quality of life. Apart from conducting research and supporting studies on medical science, the prolific Chualbhorn Research Institute also acts as a center for education and human resources development in the field of science and technology with cooperation from international organizations.

HRH Princess Chulabhorn is also renowned for her contributions to cancer research and treatments. She established a cancer center which strives for academic excellence and development of cancer treatments with the most advanced technology in the region and international standard methods.

In terms of the environmental, HRH Princess Chulabhorn plays an important role in supporting the use of scientific knowledge to conserve the environment and the use technology for agricultural and forestry management. Similarly to the other members of the Royal Family, HRH Princess Chulabhorn is the royal patron of many foundations and projects such as the Light for Life Foundation for Epilepsy, Thapthim Siam School 04 in Surin province as well as a Dharma radio station in Udon Thani province.

HRH Princess Chulabhorn has been following the footsteps of Their Majesties the King and Queen by working for the betterment of all Thais. Her great achievements and dedication for the country are the key to her status as “Princess Scientist” who is the light of Thailand.

-- NNT 2012-07-04

[Lite Beer]

REFINING

PTT assures consistent supply despite Bangchank's blaze

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- PTT Plc stands ready to supply more oil products to the market, following blaze at Bangchak Petroleum's refinery complex which led to the 30-day suspension.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/567309-blast-at-bangkok-oil-refinery-triggers-huge-blaze/page__st__25#entry5453195

[Lite Beer]

June consumer confidence index hits 9-month high to 78.6 after last Oct's mega flood due to eased political situaion, lower oil prices: UTCC /MCOT

[Lite Beer]

Whistle blower appears unusually rich: Democrat MP

The Nation

BANGKOK; -- Graft whistle blower Ruangkrai Leekitwattana appears unusually rich amassing Bt34 million in three years, Democrat MP Sathit Pitutecha said on Wednesday.

Sathit was speaking after petitioning the National Anti Corruption Commission to check the asset statement filed by Ruangkrai in his capacity as a former senator.

"Ruangkrai often crusades against corruption and abuse of power even though his wealth is very suspicious," Sathit said.

In three years serving as senator, Ruangkrai's networth grew by leaps and bounds and his minor son had accumulated more than Bt3 million in cash and tresury bonds, he said.

Before assuming office, Ruangkrai had Bt120 million and exited with Bt154 million. His two suspicious bank accounts grew from Bt400,000 to Bt7.6 million and from Bt62,000 to Bt1.7 million. His saving bonds doubled from Bt33 million to Bt66 million.

-- The Nation 2012-07-04

[Lite Beer]

Report: Apple to debut smaller iPad

San Francisco - Apple is to debut a smaller iPad this year to help fend off challenges from chief rivals Microsoft and Google, Bloomberg News reported Tuesday.

Full Story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/567374-report-apple-to-debut-smaller-ipad/#entry5453312

[webfact]

BANGCHAK FIRE

Pollution Control Dept monitoring air around oil refinery, warns of possible contamination

The Nation

Photo : Courtesy of a Charity Foundation

BANGKOK: -- The Pollution Control Department has sent an emergency team to the site near Bangchak oil refinery on Sukhumvit 64 to examine the air quality following the explosion and fire at the refinery early on Wednesday morning.

Full story:

[webfact]

Chart Thai Pattana distancing from charter change

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The Chart Thai Pattana Party has submitted a written statement to the Constitution Court clarifying that the coalition party has no involvement in the charter amendment bill.

What happened was MPs made their respective individual decisions to co-sponsor the bill, party leader Chumpol Silapa-archa said in the statement.

Chumpol said his party had never convened an executive board meeting to debate and endorse the bill.

"Under Article 122 of the Constitution, MPs are free to exercise their discretion in sponsor a legislation in conjunction with other parties," he said, arguing his party did not have the sufficient votes to sponsor the bill under its name.

In defending his party's vote in support of charter change, he argued that his party had always upheld the Constitution and that the charter rewrite by the Constitution Drafting Assembly was in accordance with the precedent from the suspended 1997 charter.

He said his party found the draft provisions to form the CDA to be in conformity with Article 68 because the proposed amendments did not aim to topple the democratic rule or to cling to power by unconstitutional means.

-- The Nation 2012-07-04

[webfact]

Bangchak refinery fire estimated at 100 million baht in damage

BANGKOK, 4 July 2012 (NNT)-Dr. Anusorn Sangnimnuan, President of the Bangchak Petroleum Public Co., Ltd, said today that the company could face a 100-million-baht loss in the fire that broke out at its refinery in Sukhumvit Soi 64 on Wednesday morning.

Full story:

[webfact]

Fire at Bangchak's oil refinery (Photo Gallery)

The Nation

The Nation online collects for our readers photos of the explosion and fire at Bangchak Petroleum refinery in Soi Sukhumvit 24 on Wednesday morning.

Photos : Kittinan Rodsuphan/Pakdee Sukperm/Siriporn Sangobpai/Sukul Kerdnaimongkol

Suphakit Khumkun/Wiwat

-- The Nation 2012-07-04

[webfact]

Officials find traces of toxic substances at oil refinery´s blast site

BANGKOK, 4 July 2012 (NNT) – The Department of Pollution Control (DPC) revealed that initial tests conducted at the site of this morning’s explosion found traces of toxic substances such as toluene, benzene and xylene.

Full story:

[webfact]

RT @AP: BREAKING NEWS: Head of CERN says new particle discovered consistent with Higgs boson, the 'God particle.' -MM

[webfact]

Scientists find particle consistent with Higgs boson

GENEVA: -- Scientists have discovered a new type of particle consistent with the long-sought Higgs boson, which would explain why there is mass in the universe, the CERN laboratory announced in Geneva Wednesday.

Full story:

[webfact]

15 witnesses to testify on charter change inquiry

The Nation

Sukumpol

BANGKOK: -- The Constitution Court has ruled to allow 15 witnesses to testify in the two-day inquiry on the charter amendment bill. Seven witnesses are allowed to testify against charter change.

Full story: http://www.thaivisa....change-inquiry/

[webfact]

SET index closed at 1194.15, down 3.92; Bt/USD31.30; GBP48.94; AUD32.07; EUR39.30; CAD30.73; HKD4.03; SGD24.65; JPY39.05

[webfact]

Apparent suicide of German at his East Pattaya home

Full story: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/567440-apparent-suicide-of-german-at-his-east-pattaya-home/

[webfact]

to continue:

Thailand Live Thursday 5 Jul 2012